have you tried the Wines of Galicia? Spain is a land with a very important winemaking tradition and over the years has managed to capture the attention of thousands of wine lovers.
Galicia could not be left behind in the recognition of its wines, in this beautiful place there are 5 Denominations of Origin that strive to achieve the development of wines full of flavor and quality worthy of much attention and prestige.
White and red wines full of freshness, balance and aromatic capacity make Galicia exceptional wines ideal to enjoy in special moments.
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The 10 best Galician wines that will dazzle you
To talk about Galicia is to talk about wines, its Denominations of Origin confirm it, in these lands are cultivated vines of great quality that thanks to its climate and soil characteristics make their harvests are the largest in Europe.
Veiga da Princesa Albariño 2016 (Veiga da Princesa Winery, D.O. Rías Baixas)
A white wine that enjoys recognition as the best Galician white wine of 2018, its varietal aroma and fresh taste make it delicious. Characteristics of the White Wine Veiga da princesa Albariño 2016
- Appearance: Pale yellow color with green tints
- Aroma: Aromatic notes of citrus fruits and white pulp, apricots, yellow plums, golden apples and a floral touch can be noticed on the nose
- Taste: In the mouth, citrus and balanced flavors stand out, with a touch of sweetness and a persistent dry finish
- Serving Temperature: This is an ideal red wine to be uncorked between 10°C and 12°C (50°F and 54°F)
- Food Pairing: Ideal with appetizers, salads, fish, seafood, lobster, white meats, lamb, paella, risottos, pasta and fresh cheeses
- Type of grape: It is made with Albariño
- Aging: It is not aged but must rest in the bottle for at least 3 months before consumption
- Price: Its price ranges between 8,59 Euros.
Crego e Monaguillo Monterrei 2018 (Crego e Monaguillo Winery, D.O Monterrei)
It is one of the wines of Galicia, young red full of flavor and balance that have made it worthy of recognition as the best red wine of 2018 by experts who distinguish it within the others. Characteristics of Monterrei Red Wine 2018
- Appearance: Garnet red color with violet rim
- Aroma: In the nose, intense and complexaromas can be noted with notes of red fruits of blackberry, strawberry and raspberry, vegetal and spicy notes of coffee, cocoa, chocolate, mineral and slightly floral jasmine
- Taste: In the mouth it is enveloping, glyceric and velvety, medium structure with sweet tannins, it is sweet and easy to drink, retronasal of fruits and spices that give it good persistence
- Serving Temperature: It is an ideal red wine to be uncorked between 14°C and 16°C (57°F and 61°F)
- Food Pairing: Ideal to accompany any type of meat, stews and tapas
- Type of grape: It is made withMencía, Arauxa and Merenzao
- Price: Its price ranges between 7,26 Euros.
Manuel Rojo (Manuel Rojo Winery, D.O Ribeiro)
It is a white wine full of lots of citrus fruit that makes it very refreshing and easy to drink, which makes it the perfect ally for lovers of soft wines. Characteristics of Manuel Rojo White Wine
- Appearance: Bright straw yellow color
- Aroma: In the nose aromas of citrus and white fruits stand out with intensity
- Taste: In the mouth it feels very fresh, long and easy to drink
- Serving Temperature: It is an ideal red wine to be uncorked at 8 °C
- Food Pairing: Ideal to accompany fish, shellfish, crustaceans and mollusks
- Type of grape: It is made with Treixadura, Lado, Godello and Albariño
- Aging: It is elaborated under the artisanal method with selective late bottling
- Price: Its price ranges between 15,70 Euros.
Nora Albariño (Viña Nora Winery, D.O. Rías Baixas)
It is one of the white Galician wines made exclusively with Albariño, which makes it a well-balanced wine full of flavor, ideal to accompany appetizers. Characteristics of Nora Albariño White Wine
- Appearance: Straw yellow color with green sparkles, bright and clean
- Aroma: On the nose aromas of white fruit with white flowers, orange blossom and soft aniseed in the background
- Taste: In the mouth it has a fresh entry aided by its good acidity, it is sumptuous, ample, with soft bitter taste, fruit and a long finish
- Serving Temperature: It is an ideal red wine to be uncorked between 7°C and 9°C
- Food Pairing: Ideal with fish, seafood, salads, white meats and soft cheeses
- Type of grape: It is made with Albariño
- Aging: It is aged in oak barrels for 4 months
- Price: Its price ranges between 10,50 Euros.
Peza do Rei 2017 (Adega Chacín Winery, D.O. Ribeira Sacra)
It is a very elegant red wine, recognized worldwide thanks to its quality and balance of aromas and flavors that make it very special. Characteristics of Pezado rei Red Wine 2017
- Appearance: Bright cherry color
- Aroma: On the nose aromas of red fruits with medium intensity
- Taste: In the mouth it is balanced, smooth and fruity which makes it very pleasant and fresh
- Serving Temperature: It is an ideal red wine to be uncorked between 16°C and 18°C (61°F and 64°F)
- Food Pairing: Ideal to accompany meats in any presentation and cheeses
- Type of grape: It is made with Mencíagrapes
- Winemaking: Alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel tanks for 12 days at a controlled temperature between 22-28ºc., followed by malolactic fermentation and soft clarification
- Price: Its price ranges between 9.20 Euros.
Alma de Autor 2016 (Adegas Pazo das Tapias Winery, Monterrei D.O.)
It is a white wine full of much elegance that make it indisputably a delight to the palate, its aroma and flavor will pleasantly enjoy any moment. Characteristics of the White Wine Alma de Autor 2016
- Appearance: Intense yellow color with greenish rim.
- Aroma: The nose is open, aromatic, with aromas of stone fruit, citrus and slightly lactic background
- Taste: In the mouth it is dense, friendly, with a good passage and a finish with some persistence
- Serving Temperature: It is an ideal red wine to be uncorked between 7°C and 9°C
- Food Pairing: Ideal with fish, seafood and soft cheeses
- Type of grape: It is made from Godellograpes
- Winemaking: It is fermented separately at low temperature for approximately one month and kept on its fine stainless steel lees for four months
- Price: Its price ranges between 9,60 Euros.
Ruchel Mencia Secretos (Bodegas Ruchel, D.O Valdeorras)
It is a balanced red wine with well-established aromas typical of the vine with which it is made, it is a very pleasant wine. Characteristics of Ruchel Mencia Secretos Red Wine
- Appearance: Bright medium cherry red color
- Aroma: In nose it presents medium intensity, it stands out for its varietal clarity where the typical tones of the Mencía variety stand out
- Taste: In the mouth it is smooth, tasty and with a harmonious balance that comes close to roundness, in which the degree of acidity acts as a balancing factor that makes it pleasant
- Serving Temperature: This is an ideal red wine to be uncorked between 16°C and 18°C
- Food Pairing: Ideal to accompany all kinds of grilled meats and fish
- Type of grape: It is made with Mencíagrapes
- Price: Its price ranges between 7,26 Euros.
Alter White Ribeiro (Bodegas Priorato de Razamonde, D.O Ribeiro)
It is a white wine of fruity character very pleasant on the palate with which you can enjoy any time when freshness is the most sought after. Characteristics of Alter Ribeiro White Wine
- Appearance: Straw yellow color with clean and bright greenish highlights
- Aroma: In nose it presents an intense, expressive aroma of fruity character in which green apple and pineapple stand out, with notes of muscatel, honey and acacia
- Taste: In the mouth it is ample, with good structure and balance that leaves a pleasant sweet fruit sensation on the finish
- Serving Temperature: It is an ideal red wine to be uncorked between 7°C and 8°C
- Food Pairing: Ideal with fish, seafood, rice dishes and Galician cheeses
- Type of grape: It is made with Treixadura, Godello, Loureira
- Price: Its price ranges between 9.56 Euros.
Carallán 2017 (Adegas Terrae Winery, D.O. Rías Baixas)
It is a young wine full of floral aromas very balanced that make it pleasant, it is a wine that surprises from the first moment. Characteristics of Carallán 2017 White Wine
- Appearance: Lemon yellow color with outstanding greenish reflections
- Aroma: In nose it has a pronounced intensity aroma, varietal and marked complexity, good floral notes, white flower, magnolia that stand out over a mixture of fruits such as reineta apple, pear and tangerine
- Taste: In the mouth it stands out for its harmony, it is persistent and presents a very refreshing final acidity
- Serving Temperature: It is an ideal red wine to be uncorked between 7°C and 10°C
- Food Pairing: Ideal with fish of all kinds and styles, cooked or raw seafood, rice dishes and appetizers
- Type of grape: It is made with Albariño
- Price: Its price ranges between 9,50 Euros.
Young Don Bernardino (Bodega Don Bernardino, D.O Ribeira Sacra)
It is a young red wine full of flavor and an aromatic balance that gives it a lot of elegance, it is a very pleasant wine and ideal to accompany typical Spanish avocados. Characteristics of Don Bernardino Young Red Wine
- Appearance: Cherry color with violet hues
- Aroma: The nose is broad with fine and distinguished aromas typical of the varietal with which it is made
- Taste: In the mouth it is intense, elegant and balanced, it is a velvety wine thanks to its subtle and generous alcoholic strength
- Serving Temperature: It is an ideal red wine to be uncorked between 14°C and 16°C
- Food Pairing: Ideal to accompany traditional Galician dishes, empanada, stew, octopus, grilled meats, as well as seasonal meats such as wild boar, deer and venison
- Type of grape: It is made with Mencía
- Price: Its price ranges between 8.36 Euros.
Origin and History of Galician Wines
Galicia is located along the Atlantic coast, in northeastern Spain, and is made up of four provinces: Orense, Pontevedra, Lugo and La Coruña.
Its proximity to the region of Portugal has influenced the wines of Galicia, so many of them are more similar to Portuguese wines than to Spanish ones.
Historically, between the 9th and 17th centuries Galicia exported wines thanks to the quality of the Ribadavia and Ourense wines to other cities in Europe, but by the 17th century the export of Ribeiro wines to Great Britain was prohibited, which triggered the economic depression of the area and the abandonment of the crops.
During the 19th century Galicia recovered and wine exports to America began, so Ribeiro became very famous. With the arrival of the Civil War, thousands of Galicians emigrated, which again led to the abandonment of winemaking in that region.
It was during 1985, when Spain became part of the European Union, that funds began to arrive in Galicia, which contributed to the resurgence of the wine industry.
Galicia produces wines which are regulated under the five Denominations of Origin: Ribeiro, Rías Baixas, Monterrei, Valdeorras and Riberira Sacra.
These appellations produce wines with grape varieties such as Mencía, Godello, Albariño, Loureira, Treixadura, Torrontés, which delight the palate of everyone who has the opportunity to taste a Galician wine.
